Is there a more frustrating place on theplanet than Pakistan? I don't mean the everyday annoyances, like the electricity loadshedding that makes life hot and sticky during the summer or the fact that waiters try to bring me cheese when I've ordered juice. I mean the big stuff.

Last week Hillary Clinton passed to Congress her report on the Haqqani network, a branch of the Taliban said to be the biggest threat to international forces in Afghanistan, declaring that they met the criteria of a terrorist group. It slaps extra sanctions on the group – and may even be the first step to declaring Pakistan to be a state sponsor of terrorism. Though Hillary may deny it, this is a victory for the anti-Pakistani lobby in the US, risking alienating Islamabad altogether.

Pakistan has long been accused of working with the Haqqanis. They shelter on the Pakistani side of the border and have historical ties to the country's security establishment dating to the 1970s. The country's generals have refused repeated calls to launch an offensive against Haqqani bases, prompting fury from the hawks in Washington who dismiss Islamabad's protestations that they will move when they can – and only when they can.

But you know what? Pakistan has a valid argument. Its forces really are overstretched. They are battling insurgents across the north-west of the country, struggling to consolidate their fragile gains. A fresh offensive with insufficient numbers may well end in defeat for the Pakistani military. Diplomats in Islamabad are sympathetic to the government's position and say they believe that Pakistan is reconsidering its long association with militant groups as part of its proxy war in Afghanistan.

But here's the problem. Valid though those arguments may be, who is going to listen? Pakistan has a massive PR problem of its own making.

For in the same week that Hillary pointed the finger at the Haqqani network, Pakistan said it was expelling expat staff with the charity Save the Children and its courts finally freed Rimsha Masih, a young girl accused of blasphemy, who never should have been arrested in the first place. This week, the man accused of masterminding the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team three years ago has been freed on bail. And we already know about Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped track down Osama bin Laden who has been imprisoned for his efforts.

A country like that, which constantly blackens its own name, is never going to win over public opinion around the world. Even when it has a reasonable case that it is not able to take on the Haqqanis.

One solution, of course, would be to clean up its court s system, overhaul its democratic institutions and tame the military, which pulls so many of the strings.

Another might be to learn a lesson from that other country established in the late 1940s as a secular homeland for a persecuted religious minority, where religious hardliners have since expanded their influence, which has also developed nuclear weapons despite international condemnation and which faces a terrorist threat on its own borders – yet which has retained a place as a trusted American ally and sits at the heart of world affairs.

It will never happen, but Pakistan could do a lot worse than at least try to mimic Israel's extraordinary PR machine, monitoring negative news reports, issuing instant rebuttals and making sure that spokesmen and women are available around the clock to push the Pakistani line.

Pakistan is a hard country to defend. But sometimes someone should try.

PMLN high-ups were celebrating after elections on 11 May Gujrawala, A family were going past husband/\wife/kids on motor bike & pmln party members stooped & dragged the woman & gang raped her.... Thats pmln democracy...------------------------------------------------------Try attending a Janaza like this and then you will know what it means to be in a war ! What it means to pray over your fallen friends who had fought alongside you in battles. The families of our sons and brothers in armed forces are doing this everyday -- leaving behind thousands of orphans, widows and old grieving parents. This is a war our haramkhor politicians do not want to acknowledge. Elections in these times of war would mean more deaths, destruction and chaos. Then there will be no time for tauba, just punishments. Wake up now before it is too late.

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My views of 10 years or five minutes ago do not necessarily reflect my views right now. My thoughts and opinions and viewpoints will change as I learn more and develop my understanding of the things I am posting about. I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind. I reserve the right to allow my viewpoints to evolve and to change my thoughts viewpoints and opinions over time without assigning any reason.

It will never happen, but Pakistan could do a lot worse than at least try to mimic Israel's extraordinary PR machine, monitoring negative news reports, issuing instant rebuttals and making sure that spokesmen and women are available around the clock to push the Pakistani line.

Pakistan is a hard country to defend. But sometimes someone should try

There is a lot that can be learnt from Israel, economically, militarily etc, but for the moment, lets stick to the topic on hand, the media.

We'll never get the same effect Israel has, mainly because we're ethnically different. Israel can rely on jewish Americans, or Evangelical Americans, who look just like the majority of Americans, they have the same names, the same ethnic features etc. When these media people report on Israel or present opinions, they appear the same as the average Joe, wheras Pakistani presenters and experts will always look alien, we'll have brown skin, that underlying acceptance, won't be there. Also Israel has true allies in America, it's jewish population, the evangelicals, they have loyalty to Israel, you cannot buy religious loyalty.

That doesn't mean we don't make use of the media, particularly our own media at home. We need to educate our own populus on our point of view. We also need to take their approach in the western media. Israeli representatives never try to make statements to appease anyone. They will present their point of view as the only truth, even if it's BS. They're experts of making use of the concept of "A lie told a thousand times...".

There isn't a media lobby in the world though, that as as effective as a iron fist. Russia and China don't have to worry about media lobbys. Ultimately real influence comes from economic and military strength.

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There is a lot that can be learnt from Israel, economically, militarily etc, but for the moment, lets stick to the topic on hand, the media.

We'll never get the same effect Israel has, mainly because we're ethnically different. Israel can rely on jewish Americans, or Evangelical Americans, who look just like the majority of Americans, they have the same names, the same ethnic features etc. When these media people report on Israel or present opinions, they appear the same as the average Joe, wheras Pakistani presenters and experts will always look alien, we'll have brown skin, that underlying acceptance, won't be there. Also Israel has true allies in America, it's jewish population, the evangelicals, they have loyalty to Israel, you cannot buy religious loyalty.

That doesn't mean we don't make use of the media, particularly our own media at home. We need to educate our own populus on our point of view. We also need to take their approach in the western media. Israeli representatives never try to make statements to appease anyone. They will present their point of view as the only truth, even if it's BS. They're experts of making use of the concept of "A lie told a thousand times...".

There isn't a media lobby in the world though, that as as effective as a iron fist. Russia and China don't have to worry about media lobbys. Ultimately real influence comes from economic and military strength.

You've hit the nail on the head. Loyalty and affection cannot be bought. Pakistani media can never influence nor change perceptions in the US/West. The US/West share a historical, religious and cultural bond with Israel. The US/West sympathize with Israel because they feel and share the same pain and joy. Moreover, the West in particular feels indebted i.e. guilty due to persecution of the Jews during World War II. Pakistan shares no historical, religious and cultural bond with the US/West. The interaction between US/West and Pakistan is purely transactional in nature.

Actually Pakistan can also learn something from countries like Bangladesh .......... Economics. Yeah they are doing better than Pakistan in economics. Israel is a totally different beast.

Humanity's past on this planet is based on the biggest Lie in History--and the same Lie will destroy humans in future! The Truth is infront of us and yet we refuse to accept it, we refuse to see it, we refuse to listen to it. Humans are intelligent and yet the dumbest beings ever!

this is my personal if view of what Pakistan can do and only depend from China, just like israel depends from usa.

An addup to Babur Missile's post:
the irony is usa; or the white race - killed the Peaceful Land of the Red Indians to illegally occupy the country and the same with israel (also is part of the white race)- illegally occupies the land of Palestinians - has killed and still is killing the Palestinians. Therefore the two countries enjoy and share the same attributes

Military:
- create a strong military, get as many toys as possible and build more toys with China. Enough is never enough!

politics and lobbies:

have Pro-Pakistan and Pro-Pakistani active lobbies in every Chinese governmental institutions, financial institutions, ministeries, among Chinese CEO members related to factories who are internationally recognized

education:
- boost up multiple zillion, trillion times education standards in Pakistan.
- every child, student must be able to give first aid, donate blood, pick up garbage in the society
- children must learn the motto of Pakistan First, to serve, live and die for Pakistan. - it's the same mentality of Chinese and israeli children.
- interaction with pro-Pakistani countries' students (Turkish, Arabs, Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Iranian, South Korean, Japanese) Swedish, Norwegian, Brazilian, Venezuelan, Cuban etc etc) is vital to create a strong Pro-Pakistani/Pro-Pakistan network.
There can MASSIVE development in student programmes on all levels and getting international recognization and awards when gaining historical milestones in pilot projects or innovations! :-)

- sending Pakistani students from every village, city, municipality, district, region, every corner of the country (not only upper-highclass or burger class children should be privileged!) to Chinese educational institutions which have research strategy co-operations with many Chinese companies who also are internationally recognized and deliever products to international companies.

Economics:
Instead of taking a loan from IMF, a soft loan from China would be forever the best solution.
Also a financial win in the long run because China has never truely wished to see a weak Pakistan and can therefore fullyhearted help, advice, guide and serve Pakistan's futuristic financial interests.

All in all, Pakistan can dependently and stand alone with China, since Pakistan has it's own large and dynamic financial inner market, can become one of the milestone in global economies since 180-190 million people can also Roar among the Asian or Global stock exchanges and markets.

And as mentioned earlier in the parentes about interaction of students related to different countries; those countries are also known to be Pakistan-friendly. I might not have mentioned many other respectful Pro-Pakistan countries, so please do forgive me for that.

They all have good diplomatic ties: and those can also be further improved for not only be depending too much on China and Pakistan can also show to be soveriegn Pakistan at the same time rely on international co-operations with MANY internal gains. Inshallah.

Pakistanis themselves:

Many Pakistanis always say, are Pakistanis dead for not doing themselves or standing on their own feet?!
Actually, they are quite right. Pakistanis need to learn from the following:
Just like israelis who themselves are resided outside israel or are borned outside israel. They are commited to the country and take higher education, then come back to israel. Or create or even take part of pro-zionist and pro-israeli lobbies. They even teach their children to take the legacy, make them responsible and let them carry the torch to the next generation. This is their mindset.

And unfortuneatly our Pakistani people, humarey loog jee:

earn money, more money and more money doesn't matter if it's halal or haram - make big palaces in Pakistan, buy plots here and there, create lobbies for personal lobbies/networks in Pakistan for personal gains.
Status, status, status and status quo in society.
Look down on other people, shaukhaapan/showing off with the newest personal gear, stuff, car, gagdet etc, divide people in castes, show might is right, i-am-the-best-and-you-are-nothing-mindset, everything is learned from the elder generation and passed on the next generation.

By asking realistically and logically ourselves, can't we see how much inferior complexes this creates, how much personal desires and wishes such thoughts create leading into frustration, anger and hatred - or jealousy against every person or the society.
Creating more rifts by being inhumane and cruel. Thus creating more rifts.
Seriously, is this what we are going to give the ext generation of being proud patriotic humble Pakistanis and passing on the legacy this way to our next generation when such mindset is ACTUALLY ignorance, deception and astray.
This is alone enough to hinder and destroy the very few steps to develop a strong socially intregrated society.

I have great personal wishes and dreams for Pakistan. I will sound as idealistic and a patriotic dreamer for many of you, but I hope someday this post will benefit the poor people of Pakistan, who I highly regard, respect and love from the bottom of my heart. I hope i can serve Pakistan and gain my wishes/duaas from the Motherland.

What Pakistan can learn from Isreal! well , nothing. They both repel each other, both are created by Allah SWT for the eventual show down between forces of good (Pakistan) and forces of antichrist/satan (israel).

We need to stop worrying about others and put our house in order and let other learn from us.